Some 400,000 Yellow Fever vaccines have been received by the Western Equatoria State government, authorities said.
On Wednesday while addressing the press, the state’s health minister, James Abdullah Aron, confirmed the arrival of the consignment adding that they are still waiting for field operation materials. He said they would embark on training health workers who will dispense the vaccines.
“The vaccines are already here and we are waiting for some of the materials or tools that will be delivered to the state later today or tomorrow and then we will start the training,” he said.
The minister assured the public that the Yellow Fever vaccines have been approved by the national health ministry.
According to the vaccination campaign will target the five counties of Ibba, Yambio, Nzara, Ezo, and Tambura where the disease has been detected.
A cross-section of residents who spoke to Radio Tamazuj welcomed the vaccination campaign, saying that some children have succumbed to Yellow Fever.
Emmanuel Thewise, a resident of Yambio County, expressed his readiness for the jab saying it will protect him against the disease.
“I will be happy to receive it (vaccine) because it is good to prevent the disease and be safe to run my daily business,” he said.
Another resident, Grace Siapai, said she will go for the vaccine with her children because three children died from a disease suspected to be Yellow Fever in her Akorogbodi residential area.
“It is ok to get the vaccine because many children are dying from some disease believed to be Yellow Fever,” she stated. “I will take my family including my husband.”
About a month ago, state health officials confirmed cases of Yellow Fever disease in Yambio.
Yellow fever is a viral disease spread by the bite of specific kinds of mosquitoes.
Symptoms of Yellow Fever include; skin or eye turning yellow, back pains, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, dizziness, fever, muscle aches, decreased urination, chills or shivering, and vomiting.
Vaccination is the most effective way of preventing Yellow Fever disease infection. Yellow Fever is a completely vaccine-preventable disease and a single shot of the Yellow Fever vaccine protects for a lifetime.